Separable and collapsible article simulating a christmas tree



Sept. 23, 1952 M. FRIDINGER\ 2,611,688

SEPARABLE AND CQLLAPSIBLE ARTICLE S'IMULATING A CHRISTMAS TREE v Filed June 12, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. Mani 15 1812251.?!

, AGENT P 1952 M. FRIDINGER. 2,611,638

SEPARABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE-2-,ARTICLE SIMULATING A CHRISTMAS TREE Filed June 12, 1948 2 smzms-smam 2 INVENTOR. Jl/arzie lP/dlzyer AGENT Patented Sept. 23, 1952 OFFICE SEPARABLE AND coLLAPsrsLEAnTIoLE SIMULATING A cnins'rMAs TREE Marie Fridinger, Vienna, Austria Application June 12, 1948, Serial No. 32,688

In Austria October 10,1947

This invention relates to an article made of paper, cardboard or similar foldable sheet material, which can be constructed to be used as. a container for display and'other purposes, decorative device, Christmas tree, plaything, etc.

It is an object of my invention to provide an article of the character referred to which consists, and is easily formed, of a number of parts and can be disassembled just as easily.

An important object of this invention is to provide an article, the parts of which can be packed and shippedbythe manufacturer, and sold in stores, in flat or collapsed condition, the parts being constructed so as to be readily set up by the user.

Another object of my invention is to provide. an article which can be erected by setting up and assembling its individual parts without the need for gluing, stapling or the like and without employment of elastic bands, cords or similar fastening means.

Another object of my present invention is to provide an article, the parts of which, upon being set up and assembled, represent a structure strong enough for the intended purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article which is neat in appearance, inexpensive to manufacture and purchase, and well suited for the purposes for which it is intended.

Still another object of my invention is to providean article, the parts of which, upon disassembly, can be individually collapsed into fiat condition.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and the other objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements of a collapsible article and the relation of these elements one to the other, as are more particularly described in the following specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an article embodying features of my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a part of the article of F Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a basketlike article according to this invention;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a part of the article of Fig. 3, with part of the structure shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the part of Fig. 4;

6 is similar to Fig. 5, but showing the part in flat condition.

Fig. '7' is a fragmentary detail of a part of the article. of Fig. 3 and isexplanatory of the formation of that part;

2 Glaims. (Cl. 41-15) 2 r Fig. 7a is an enlarged plan view ofthe article of Fig. 3, with a part omitted; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified ar= ticle;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of still another modification simulating a Christmas tree;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of one of the branched structures of the Christmas tree;

Fig. 11 is a sectiontaken on theline- H l l-of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view branched structure; g r

Fig. 13 isan enlarged elevation of a part ofthe Christmas tree; and I Fig. 14 illustrates a furthermodification of the article of my invention.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, particularly Figs. land 2, the article generally designated It) comprises acarrier orpost l2 and a bowllike member I 4. The post has the form of a six-sided pyramid and is formed from an integral blank which is scored so-as to furnish the six sides of the pyramid. The blank may be of cardboard and its longitudinal edges may be sealed together to form the pyramid. Instead-of being adhesively united, the edges may also be stapled together. The post has no base and is hollow. The bowl I 4 ismade from an integral circular'blank, for instance, of cardboard provided with a hexagonal center hole l6, the-original shape of the bowl blank and hole 16 being indicated by dash-dotted lines in Fig. 2'. The hole I 6 is shaped to fit over the post I2 approximately at the desired height.

The bowl blank has radial scores and is folded in alternate direction so as to give the bowl a zigzag pattern. The folds along the scores ui, uz, and us make the-flanking sectors turn upwardly, whereas the folds along the scores d1, d2 (not visible in Fig. 1) and d3 turn the flanking sectors of a modified downwardly. From Fig. '1 it will be seen, for instance, that the sectors 81 and s2, which flank the score m, are bent upwardly, whereas 82 and s; are bent downwardly with respect to the score-d1.

Generally speaking, my invention uses a post in upright position and a member of bowllike shape which isheld by thepost, as can'b'e seen from Fig. 1, in a substantially horizontal position. Said'member is provided with a hole of such shape that simply by passing the upper end of the post through the hole the member is placed on, and held by, the post. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the hole I6 is congruous with a horizontal section through the post [2.

In accordance with my invention, I make use of flat'integralblanks' to form both the post and bowl. In order to form a member of bowllike shape, as shown in Fig. 1, I bend the blank so as to impart a hollow form to the blank. As explained above, I provide radial scores and flex the panels or sectors between the scores in alternate succession. Instead of a circular bowl blank, a blank of any other shape may also be used.

It will be understood that the post 12 can easily be collapsed by flattening same in one of the diagonal planes. The bowl M can be flattened by pressing it into the plane of its blank.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to la, the article generally designated l8 comprises a post 20, a bowlllke member 22 and a loop 24. The post 20 is a four-sided pyramid which again is formed from an integral blank by scoring and folding and by uniting the longitudinal blank edges. The loop 24 is a doubled blank and is permanently fastened to the vertex of the pyramid as by gluing, but the loop may instead be simply put into an opening at the vertex of the pyramid. The bowl 22 is formed from a circular blank 22' (see Fig. 7 which is scored along the lines 23 and has a centrally located quadrilateral aperture 25', a serrated circumference 28 and a small sectorlike cutout 30, by sealing the radial edges 32 and 34 together, for instance, in an overlapping fashion. The edges 32 and 34 assume the positions shown in Fig. 7a, and the flat bowl blank 22 turns into a frusto-pyramidical bowl 22 with a serrated periphery 28 and an aperture 25 which conforms in shape to the horizontal section through the pyramid 20 at the height where the bowl is to be held.

From Figs. '7 and 7a, it will be seen that the central portion of the bowl blank which coincides with the cutout 26' or 26 is incised along the lines 35 to form four flaps 36. These flaps may be bent upwardly along the score lines 38 to lie against the sides of the post, when the bowl is put in place, and to give the bowl a safe seat and rigidity to the whole structure (see Fig. 3). Such flaps may be bent downwardly as well to serve the same purpose.

The post 20 can similarly be flattened as the post [2. In Figs. and 6, the post 20 is shown in erect and flat condition, respectively. The bowl 22 can be folded upon itself along the dashdotted fold lines 40, indicated in Fig. 7a to be brought into fiat condition.

In Fig. 8, a three-tiered article is shown well suited to be used as a centerpiece. The post 42 is a six-sided pyramid and thethree frusto-pyramidical bowls 44, 48 and 48 are formed from blanks with hexagonal apertures to spacedly fit over the post. They are arranged on the post so that the smallest is on top and the largest at the bottom. The six flaps 50 of each of the bowl are formed, as explained with respect to Figs. 7 and 7a, and are shown directed downwardly. It will be clear that the points of the flaps of the bottom bowl, when necessary, may be folded around the base of the pyramid inwardly of the pyramid.

my invention is the starlike shape of the horizontal members used in this embodiment. Each branch or point 56 of each branched structure is folded along its longitudinal center line 53, the folded halves being directed downwardly. The provision of the branches 55 and, consequently, notches 51 formed between the branches makes it possible to obtain a rooflike structure of a zigzag pattern by folding the branches of one and the same blank in the same sense, in the present case, downwardly. The rooflike form can best be seen from Fig. 11, and the zigzag pattern from Figs. 9 and 12.

From Fig. 9, it will be seen that the branched structures are arranged so that the largest structure is at the bottom and th next smaller structure follows one upon the other until the smallest is on top. The branched structures are provided with holes 55 conforming to the respective sections through the conical post 52. The branched structures may be placed on the post so that the branches of each structure overlie the notches of the structure immediately underneath. An arrangement, as shown in Fig. 9, whereby the branch of each structure overlies a notch underneath simulates a richly branched tree.

In Fig. 12, a branched structure 54' is shown which simulates branches of a Christmas tree equipped with small candles 60. These candles are obtained by providing three-sided cuts 62 in the branches 56' and by bending the cut-out material upwardly. The branches 56' are folded along 58' as are the branches 56 along 58.

Preferably, I use for the cone 52 and the branched structures 54 and 54 green paper, either alone or with cardboard as a back layer, the latter material being used to obtain a stronger construction. To obtain a variegated effect, I

paste differently colored particles of paper 64 onto the branches 56 or 56.

The Christmas tree is crowned, as can be seen from Fig. 13, with a star 66 made, for instance, of paper of silver or gold color. Passed through a hole 68 in the star and spread over the tree are silveror gold-colored threads 10 to increase the decorative effect. An electric bulb may be put intothe inside of the cone 52 to make light radiate through a few incisions provided in the cone.

Each of the branched structures 55 and 56' simulates five branches. It is obvious that the number of branches may vary. It will also be understood that by varying the shape of the branches dilferent foliage and different kinds of trees may be represented.

The embodiment of Fig. 14 uses two posts 12 together with a single oval-shaped bowl 14, the latter being formed from a fiat integral blank provided with two cutouts by adhesively uniting the edges '16 and 18 which define each of the cutouts.

It should be understood that more than two posts can alsobeused with a single horizontal member and that two or more horizontal members can be used with two or more posts as well as with one post. It is, of course, also possible to support a horizontal member by a number of posts, say, three, and to support another horizontal member merely by one or two of those three posts.

It is'believed that the construction and handling of the elements or parts of separable and collapsible articles for practicing my invention, and the many advantages thereof, will be understood from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will be clear that the parts may be constructed and combined in innumerable ways to produce an infinity of articles, all of the parts being originally simple blanks, easy to set up and to assemble, the articles being easy to separate. The separate parts can be folded or pressed into flat condition, both before assembly and after disassembly. The article of my invention can be made to be used for various purposes. To use it as a toy, various blanks are provided with directions how to make and set up the parts and in which difierent ways to assemble such parts.

It is obvious that frusto-conical and frustopyramidical posts may be used instead of cones and pyramids, respectively. Essential to my invention is the tapering form, the gradual diminution toward the upper end making it pos sible that the horizontal parts, each being provided with a hole, are simply put over the posts to be held in place.

The holes in the horizontal parts may be arranged in any way, for instance, along a center line. If more than one post is used, the holes in one horizontal part are usually of identical shape, unless posts of different size are used.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and I described my invention in preferred forms, the many indicated changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1-. In an article simulating a Christmas tree, comprising a trunklike post narrowed toward the upper end, and branched structures, the branched structures being of starlike shape and gradually changing diametrical dimensions, the post supporting the branched structures in an axially spaced relationship, the largest branched structure being at the bottom, and each next smaller branched structure being over the next and branched structures being assembled by slipping the largest branched structure first over the post and each next smaller branched structure next, the post and branched structures, upon disassembly of the article, being adapted to be flattened.

2. In the article according to claim 1, the branched structures being provided with threesided cuts, the portions thus partly dissociated being bent away to stick up.

MARIE FRIDINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,101,898 Crosser Dec. 14, 1937 2,186,327 Crosser Jan. 9, 1940 2,382,746 Price -1 Aug. 14, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, January 1937, page 117, Table-top Christmas Trees.

Tree Tipsstarred by Dennison. 

1. IN AN ARTICLE SIMULATING A CHRISTMAS TREE, COMPRISING A TRUNKLIKE POST NARROWED TOWARD THE UPPER END, AND BRANCHED STRUCTURES, THE GRADUALLY CHANGING DIAMETRICAL DIMENSIONS, THE POST SUPPORTING THE BRANCHED STRUCTURES IN AN AXIALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP, THE LARGEST BRANCHED STRUCTURE BEING AT THE BOTTOM, AND EACH NEXT SMALLER BRANCHED STRUCTURE BEING OVER THE NEXT LARGER ONE, EACH BRANCHED STRUCTURE BEING PROVIDED WITH A CENTER HOLE, THE CENTER HOLE OF EACH BRANCHED STRUCTURE CORRESPONDING TO A DIFFERENT SECTION THROUGH SAID POST, EACH LARGER BRANCHED STRUCTURE BEING PROVIDED WITH A LARGER HOLE, THE BRANCHES OF EACH BRANCHED STRUCTURE BEING CREASED ALONG THEIR CENTER LINES, THE PORTIONS ALONGSIDE THE CREASES BEING TURNED DOWNWARDLY, THE POST AND BRANCHED STRUCTURES BEING MADE OF BLANKS OF FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL, THE POST BEING FORMED BY FASTENING TOGETHER THE RADIAL EDGES OF THE SUBSTANTIALLY SECTOR-LIKE POST BLANK, THE POST AND BRANCHED STRUCTURES BEING ASSEMBLED BY SLIPPING THE LARGEST BRANCHED STRUCTURE FIRST OVER THE POST AND EACH NEXT SMALLER BRANCHED STRUCTURE NEXT, THE POST AND BRANCHED STRUCTURES, UPON DISASSEMBLY OF THE ARTICLE, BEING ADAPTED TO BE FLATTENED. 